Loose-leaf binder.



J. R. GILDA.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTO'LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D, C

J. R. GILDA.

I LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., FHOTG-LITHO.. WAsHINGwN. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. GILDA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES SIEBEB, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Application filed. January 17, 1914. Serial No. 812,622.

To alley/ 10m it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN R. GILDA, a

citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to loose-leaf binders of the type that comprise tapes or bands for retaining the leaves in position, and means for enabling said tapes or hands to be wound up or unwound so as to provide for the insertion and removal of the leaves.

The main object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive loose-leaf binder of the type mentioned that comprises only a few parts of simple construction which are so arranged that the binder is smaller and more compact than the loose-leaf binders of this particular type which are now in use.

Another object is to provide a loose-leaf binder of the type mentioned in which the operating mechanism for the tapes or bands is carried by one of the covers or by a leafclamping member to which one of the covers is attached, thus permitting the use of a cloth back or a back formed from flexible or pliable material whose chief function is merely to give the binder a finished appearance.

Another object is to provide a loose-leaf binder of the type referred to which is so designed that the covers of same will lie fiat, or practically so, when the binder is opened up.

Another object is to provide a loose-leaf binder of the type mentioned which is so designed that the tape-operating mechanism can be operated easily, and the tapes can be attached to or disconnected from same with very little trouble. And still another object is to provide a loose-leaf binder in which the tape-operating mechanism is suspended from the rear edge of a leaf-clamping member in such a manner that it is practically hidden from view and does not form an obstruction on the inside of the cover that prevents the leaves from lying flat upon the top cover that is turned back oropened.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a transverse sectional view of a loose-leaf binder constructed in accordance with my invention, showing a plurality of leaves arranged in operative position between the covers, one of which is turned back or opened; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tapes or bands loosened preparatory to changing the leaves; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the binder showing the parts of same arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an end view illustrating a slight modification of my invention with both covers closed; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of same, partly broken away; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the binder illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, showing the covers opened; Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating another means from that shown in Fig. 3 for locking the tape-winding shaft in operative position; and Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, of the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A. and A designate the two covers of my improved loose-leaf binder, and B designates the tapes or bands, preferably strips of fabric, that retain the loose-leaves C in position, said tapes extending through substantially T-shaped slots 1 in the leaves C, as shown in Fig. 3. The tapes B pass transversely through the leaves G, and are connected at one end to a leaf-clamping member D. The opposite ends of said tapes are connected to a tape-operating mechanism that is adapted to be turned in one direction so as to wind up the tapes and thus clamp the leaves in position, as shown in Fig. 1, and in the opposite direction so as to loosen or unwind the tapes, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus premit the leaves to be removed or re-arranged or new leaves inserted. The tape-operating mechanism just mentioned is carried by a leaf-clamping member D that cooperates with the leaf-clamping member D to securely clamp the rear edge portions of the leaves C together, as shown in Fig. 1. The covers A and A are preferably attached to the leaf-clamping members D and D so that said leaf-clamping members virtually form part of the covers, and while I prefer to have the covers hinged to the leaf-clamping members or connected thereto in such a manner that they can be moved relatively to said members, I do not wish it to be underst'ood that my broad idea is limited to such a structure or-toa binder provided with covers. A back E, which may be formed from cloth or anyother suitable material, is attached to the covers so as to give the binder a finished appearance and also house or hide from View the tape-operating mechanism.

The tape-operating mechanism consistsof. a winding shaftv F that is rotatably mounted in bearings on the leaf-clamping member D and means for locking said shaft after it has been wound upv so, as to draw the tapes taut. and thus cause the leaves to betightly clamped. between the, members D and.D... Theleaf-clamping member D may be formed. conveniently and at a low cost from. a strip of metal or. other suitable stiff material provided. at one edge with a plurality of spaced laterally projecting portions that are bent to form tubular-shaped bearings- 2 for the winding shaft F, as shown inFig, 3,,said winding shaft being provided at oneend with a non-circular-sl1aped portion 3 that. is adapted tocooperate with a winding key 4. Thetapes B may be connected to the winding. shaft. F in various waysbutl prefer, to provide'said shaftwith removable; clamping plates 5 that are arranged in recesses in the shaft and which are detachably connected thereto by screws or .other suitable fastening devices 6 so as to cause the plates 5.to securely clamp the tapes B; which are inserted between the clamping plates and the. bottoms of the recesses in the winding shaft in which said clamping plates are arranged. The tapes B lead from the winding shaft F to the under side of the leaf-clamping member D and thence through; guide openings 7 in said clamping member to the leaves C through which they pass, the opposite ends of said tapes being detachably connected to aflange 8 on the leaf-clamping member D by means of removable clampingplates 9, as shown in Figs. 1. and 2.

inventionillustrated in. Figs. 1 to 3 for locking the winding shaftv F in adjusted said shaft in a direction to-hold the teeth on the collarlO in engagementwith the ratchet teeth 11. If it is desired to wind up. the

tapes-B soas toclamp. the leaves O in position the operator places the winding key f onlthe shaftF and rotates saidzshaft'in one direction, tothesright in the structure hereinshown, sov as; to cause the tapes B to be wound: Qnto, same and. thus draw. the leaf.-

clamping member D into: operative posi- -tion,-'fasshow-I1 in.- Fig,. 1,, the; operator QOIl-r Themeansused intheembodiment of my wardly, looking at Fig. 3, so as to disengage I the toothed-collar 10 from the ratchet teeth 11 and thus permit said shaft to be rotated in the opposite direction so as to unwind the tapes B, as shown in Fig. 2. Various means may be employed for locking the winding shaft after the tapes have been tightened, and therefore I do not wish it to be understood that my invention is limited to the means just described for this purpose. For example, the winding shaft might "be locked by means of a spring pawl 10 arranged in such a manner that it will engage ratchet teeth 11 on the winding shaft F, as shown in Fig. 8, a rotatable tripping device 12 being arranged in proximity to the free end of said pawl so as to hold it in an inoperative position while the tapes are being loosened or unwound.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4c the covers are connected to the leaf-clamping members by strips of fabric 13 that serve as hinges, each of said strips 13 being wrapped around a reinforcing plate 14 of metal or other suitable stiff material that is permanently connected to the leaf-clamping member with which said particular strip l3cooperates. One convenient and inexpensive way of connecting the cover hinge plates 14' to the leafclamping members D and D is to provide said members with integral prongs 15 that are forced through the plates 14: and the strips 13 that are wrapped around same and then bent over, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to securely connect all of said parts together. The flange 8 on the leaf-clamping member D not only acts as a means to which the tapes B can be connected conveniently, but it also serves to reinforce and strengthen the member D. I prefer to equip the binder with coverleaves C that are provided with stiff portions in which the slots for the tapes B are formed so as to protect the slotted portions of the leaves C andthusprevent them from tearing out when the tapes B are being tightened or loosened, the stiff portions of said cover-pages C being preferably formed by strips of fabric 16 secured to the rear edge stiff material, as shown in Fig. 2. These cover-pages and the particular means employed for connecting the covers A and A to the leaf-clamping members, however, are immaterial so far as my broad idea is concerned, and 'therefore'I do not wish it to be understood that my invention is limitedto a loose-leaf binder provided with coverpages or having covers that are connected to leaf-clamping members in the-manner abovedescribed. Qne feature that distinguishes my binder from binders of this type which are now in use is that the operating mechanism for the tapes is carried by the covers or by leaf-clamping members to which the covers are attached, instead of being carried by the back of the binder as in the structures now in use. By forming a binder in this manner I am able to use a cloth back or a back formed'from any other suitable flexible or pliable material as the chief function of the back is to present a neat and ornamental appearance to the binder and hide the tapewinding mechanism from view.

Another distinguishing feature of my binder is that the tape-operating mechanism is suspended from the rear edge of the leafclamping member D when said member is in its normal position, so that said mechanism is out of the way and does not form an obstruction on the inside of the cover A that prevents the leaves from lying flat upon said cover when the cover is turned back or opened, as shown in Fig. 1. In other words, the tape-securing and operating mechanism of my improved binder is connected to the underside of one of the cover hinge plates 14 and consequently it lies back of the rear edges of the leaves and below the topmost leaf of the pile of leaves between the covers, thereby permitting the leaves to lie substantially flat on the cover A when entries are being made on the leaves. This feature of suspending the tape-winding mechanism from the rear edge of a leaf-clamping member that is secured to the cover or to a hinge plate for the cover in such a manner that it is practically hidden from view and does not lie between the under side of the cover and the leaves, is broadly new, and therefore I wish it to be understood that the particular construction of the tape winding mechanism is immaterial so far as this feature of my invention is concerned.

My improved binder comprises only a few parts of simple construction, and therefore it can be manufactured and sold at a low cost; the covers of same will lie fiat or substantially so when the covers are opened up, and the leaves will lie flat upon the covers, owing to the fact that there is no bulky mechanism on the back that necessitates the use of a stilf or inflexible back; the tapes or hands that retain the leaves in position can be renewed easily on account of the convenient means that I have provided for securing the opposite ends of the tapes to the winding shaft and to one of the leaf-clamping members; and still another desirable feature of my binder is the ease with which the tape-winding mechanism can be actuated to wind or unwind the tapes. The leafclamping members can be formed from comparatively thin or lightweight metal or other suitable stiff material owing to the fact that the member D is provided with a reinforcing and strengthening flange and is substantially angle-shaped in cross section, and the member D is provided with right-angularlydisposed bearings for the winding shaft that also act to reinforce and strengthen said member. In appearance the binder differs only slightly from an ordinary book in which the leaves are permanently attached together owing to the compactness of the tape-winding mechanism and to the fact that the back of the binder may be made of the same material as the material which forms the outer face of the cover.

In Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, 1 have illustrated my invention embodied in a looseleaf binder provided with a spring back, namely, a back formed from a substantially U-shaped piece of resilient metal. Said binder comprises leaf-clamping members 13 and D, a winding shaft F rotatably mounted in bearings on the leaf-clamping member 1), and tapes B connected at one end to said winding shaft and at their opposite ends to the leaf-clamping member D. A substantially Ushaped back E that is formed from resilient material, is provided at its edges with bearings 20 which are arranged in longitudinal alinement with cooperating bearings 21 on the covers C and pintle-pins 22 pass through said cooperating bearings 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to hinge the covers C to the edge portions of the back E. The leaf-clamping members D and D are provided with hook-shaped devices 23, or other suitable means, that engage the pintle-pins 22 and thus connect the covers to said leaf-clamping members. A false back E is preferably attached to the covers so as to hide the springback E.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of covers, a back, tapes or bands for retaining the loose-leaves in operative position, leaf-clamping members to which the covers are fastened, and an operating shaft for said tapes carried by one of said leafclamping members and arranged inside of the back in such a manner that it does not form an obstruction that prevents the leaves from lying flat upon the cover that is turned back, said leaf-clamping members being formed from strips of metal one of which is provided on its rear edge with integral tubular shaped bearings for the shaft and the other with a flange that erally toward said bearings.

'2. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of leaf-clamping members, tapes or bands for retaining the leaves in position and for causing said members to securely clamp the leaves, an operating mechanism for said tapes carried by one of said leaf-clamping members and arranged in such a position that it lies beyond the rear edges of the leaves with which the leaf-clamping members are adapted to cooperate, an inwardly projecting .flangeon the rear edge of the other leaf-clamping member to which the tapes are connected, and covers connected to said leaf-clamping members.

3. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of leaf-clamping members, tapes or bands for retaining the leaves in position and for causing said members to securely clamp the leaves, an operating 'mechanism for said tapes carried by one of said leaf-clamping members and arranged in such a position that it lies beyond the rear edges of the leaves with which the leaf-clamping members are adapted to cooperate, and covers hinged to plates that are secured to the outer sides of said leaf-clamping members.

i. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of leaf-clamping members, tapes or bands for retaining the leaves in position and for causing said members to securely clamp the leaves, an operating mechanism for said tapes carried by one of said leaf-clamping members and arranged in such a position that it liesbeyond the rear edges of the leaves with .which the leaf-clamping members are adapted to cooperate, and covers connected by strips of fabric or similar material to plates that are mounted on said. leaf-clamping members and which are securely connected thereto. 7

5. A loose-leaf binder comprising a pair of leaf-clamping members, tapes or bands for retaining the leavesin position and for causing said members to securely clamp the leaves, an operating mechanism for said tapes carried by one of said leaf-clamping members and arranged in such a position that it lies beyond the rear edges of the leaves with which the leaf-clamping 'members are adapted to cooperate, covers hinged to plates that lie upon said leaf-clamping members, and integral prongs on said leafclamping members that pass through said plates and thus secure same to said leafclamping members.

6. Ina loose-leaf binder, a pair of leafclamping members, one of which is provided Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of projects latwith shaft bearings and the other being provided at its outer edge with an angularlydisposed flange that projects laterally toward said shaft bearings, tapes or bands for holding said members in clamping engagement with the leaves that are adapted to be inserted between same, and a winding shaft for said tapes journaled in said bearings, said tapes being detachably connected at one end to said winding shaft and at their opposite ends to the-flange on one of said leaf-clamping members. Y v

7. In a loose-leaf binder, a pair of leafclam'ping members, tapes or bands for holding said members in clamping engagement with the leaves that are adapted to be inserted between same, a winding shaftfor said tapes, removable devices on said winding shaft for detachably connecting the tapes to same, bearings on one of said mem-.

here for the shaft, and a flange on the other nelnber to which the tapes are connected,

said bearings and flange pro ecting toward each other.

8. Ina loose-leaf binder, a pair of leaf-.

clamping members, tapes or bands for holding said members in clamping engagement with the leaves that are adapted to be inserted between same, a winding shaft for said tapes carried by one of said leaf-clamping members, removable devices on said wind-5 ing shaft for detachably connecting the tapes to same, a flange on the other leafclamping member which lies back of the rear edges of the leaves, and means for detachably connecting the oppositeends of said tapes to said-flange.

9. In a loose-leaf binder, a pair of leafclamping members, one of which is provided at its rear edge witha strengthening flange, bearings on the rear edge of the other leaf-clamping member, and a winding shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings.

10. In a loose-leaf binder, a pair of leafclamping members, one ofwhich is'provided at its rear edge with a strengthening flange,

bearings on the rear edge of the other leafclamping member, a winding shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings, a toothedcollar on said shaft, a locking means that cooperates with said collar to prevent retrograde movement of the shaft, and a spring which tends to force the collar on said shaft into engagement with said locking means.

Inv testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presenceof two witnesses, this twelfth day of January, 1914.

JOHN R. GILDA.

Iatents,

Was l ringtomj). G. 

